If you’re an experienced programmer looking for more control over your development environment, it’s time to consider installing Unreal Engine from source. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Unreal Engine from scratch, and we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with this powerful game engine.
Installing Unreal Engine from Source: Why Bother?
There are a few reasons why you might want to install Unreal Engine from source rather than using the official installer:
- Customization
When you install Unreal Engine from source, you have complete control over your development environment. This means you can customize every aspect of your installation to suit your needs. You can choose which components to install, where to install them, and how to configure them.
- Performance
Installing Unreal Engine from source can also give you a performance boost. The official installer includes a lot of extra software and features that you might not need, which can slow down your system. By installing only the components you need, you can reduce the amount of overhead and improve your overall performance.
- Troubleshooting
If you’re experiencing issues with your Unreal Engine installation, installing from source can help you troubleshoot more effectively. When you install from source, you have access to the underlying code and configuration files, which can give you a better understanding of what’s causing your problems.
- Learning
Installing Unreal Engine from source is also a great way to learn about the inner workings of the engine. By building your installation from scratch, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how the various components work together, and you’ll be better equipped to customize your development environment in the future.
Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Unreal Engine from Source
Now that we’ve covered some of the reasons why you might want to install Unreal Engine from source let’s dive into the installation process itself.
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for Unreal Engine. You can find these requirements on the Epic Games Launcher website.
You’ll also need to download the Unreal Engine source code from the official GitHub repository. Once you have the source code, extract it to a location of your choice.
Install CMake and Visual Studio Code
Unreal Engine uses CMake as its build system, so you’ll need to install this software before you can start building your engine. You can download CMake from the official website.
Next, you’ll need to install Visual Studio Code. This is the text editor that Unreal Engine uses for coding, and it’s a great choice for game development. You can download Visual Studio Code from the official website.
Configure Unreal Engine
Once you have CMake and Visual Studio Code installed, you can start configuring Unreal Engine. Open a command prompt and navigate to the directory where you extracted the source code. Then run the following command:
bash
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPERelease -G "Visual Studio 16" ..
This will generate a build configuration file called `UnrealEngine.sln`. Open this file in Visual Studio Code and you should see a project tree that looks something like this:
Build Unreal Engine
Now that you have your build configuration files generated, you can start building Unreal Engine. Run the following command in your terminal to build the engine:
bash
cmake –build .
This will compile and link the engine’s source code into an executable file called `UnrealEngine.exe`. You can now run this executable to launch the Unreal Editor.
Customize Your Installation
If you want to customize your installation, you can do so by modifying the `Unreal Engine` project configuration. For example, you can change the installation location by setting the `InstallLocation` property in the `Properties` tab of the `Unreal Engine` project.
You can also add or remove components from the installation by modifying the `UE_CUSTOM_INSTALLER` property in the same `Properties` tab. For example, if you want to install only the editor and not the development tools, you can set this property to `ON`.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during the installation or build process, there are a few things you can try:
- Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for Unreal Engine. You can find these requirements on the Epic Games Launcher website.
- Check that you have installed CMake and Visual Studio Code correctly. You can download CMake from the official website, and Visual Studio Code from the official website.
- Verify that you are using the correct version of CMake and Visual Studio Code. Make sure you are using the latest versions available at the time of writing this article.
- Try building Unreal Engine in debug mode. You can do this by setting the `CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE` property to `Debug` when running `cmake`.
FAQs
Q: How long does it take to install Unreal Engine from source?
A: The installation process can vary depending on your system and the components you are building, but it typically takes around an hour or two to complete.
Q: Is it possible to build Unreal Engine for multiple platforms at once?
A: Yes, you can build Unreal Engine for multiple platforms simultaneously by specifying the `TargetPlatforms` property in the `Properties` tab of the `Unreal Engine` project. For example, if you want to build the engine for Windows, macOS, and Linux, you can set this property to `WINDOWS macOS LINUX`.
Q: Can I use a different text editor with Unreal Engine?
A: Yes, you can use any text editor with Unreal Engine, but Visual Studio Code is the official text editor for the engine. You’ll need to configure the `UE_CUSTOM_INSTALLER` property in the `Properties` tab of the `Unreal Engine` project if you want to use a different text editor.